The child’s different expressions flitted across her face with the swiftness of a butterfly’s wings. She first became irritable and almost panicked as her ears tilted backwards and she seemed to chastise her male companion in a hushed tone. Then a moment later her features drooped and she backed away, looking most repentant and almost afraid of the possibility of punishment.

Valencia had to try her best not to laugh, for she could see that Posy was genuinely dismayed.

“There’s no need to call me ma’am,” she replied bluntly, her tone light and calm but unembellished. The title made her sound old, when she was barely an adult herself, and all the fun was dried out of its connotations. It didn’t suit her at all, and besides: this youngster didn’t owe her anything, they’d only just met. Valencia had always been more of the opinion that respect was earned, not freely given.

She did not address the issue of Nolito, although she continued to eye him curiously.

He addressed her then, however, and she noticed the way her name slid across his tongue with a little more care than the other words. Valencia was unused to provoking such a strange reaction in her newest acquaintances. She couldn’t deny that she was more than intrigued by his interest in her and his blatant disregard for the Peak’s boundaries.

Just before she could respond, however, a loud clatter of hooves across the rock distracted her, and her eyes widened slightly in surprise as another mare bulleted round the corner. She ran with greater speed than Valencia would have thought safe considering the often narrow pathways and high drops of the Peak’s pathways. This had to be one of the Vulcans then.

Valencia had to suppress a smirk, the corners of her lips twitching in silent amusement, at the mare’s words. She was under the impression that this was a very serious matter, however, judging by this new mare’s reaction, so it was probably best not to undermine her authority or determination.

Now this was what Valencia had came here to see.

The stranger stood almost protectively in front of herself and Posy, separating them clearly from Nolito. She was a pretty intimidating sight, even if Valencia might have thought it a bit of an overreaction herself. Obviously she could handle herself.

“I’d think you’d like to keep those,” said Valencia plainly, still trying to keep a straight face as she watched the scene unfold before her with interest.

tell me your secrets and ask me your questions